Vacuum washing device



P 1934- H. L.WILLIAMS 1,972,413

VACUUM WASHING DEVICE Filed June 21, 1933 INVENTOB Miami?!) A T'TOENEX Patented Sept. 4, 1934 1,972,413 VACUUM WASHING DEVICE Harrison Lee Williams, Oakland, Calif. Application June 21, 1933, Serial No. 676,857

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a washing device of the vacuum type, and more particularly to a device which may be used manually for washing clothes and the like, or which may be employed. 5 singularly or in multiple in a power driven washing machine. A g

It is known that vacuum cups have heretofore been proposed for use in washing machines. However, it is also known that those types of vac uum cups heretofore proposed are lacking in eiiiciency, due to the presence of air or the mixture of air and water becoming trapped or confined within the cup during the emergence of the cup into the wash water. The present invention has .15 for one of its objects to provide a washing device of the vacuum type, wherein means is provided for scavaging or expelling air or other medium from the vacuum cup during the submergence stroke of the device into the wash water so that a vacuum or" greater degree Will be formed within the cup during the upward movement or withdrawal of the device from the wash water. By creating a vacuum of greater degree within the device, the efliciency of the operation is greatly 25 enhanced, since the purpose of the vacuum is to positively draw through the mesh of the fabric being washed, the washing medium, usually consistingof soap an d water. 7

Another object is to provide a'washing device of the vacuum type, possessed of the characteristics of creating a vacuum of sufficient degree that will positively cause the washingmedium to be drawn through the mesh of the fabric being washed, whereby to increase materially the efliciency of washing devices of the vacuum type.

Another object is to provide a washing device of the vacuum type having a novel valve through which the air confined within the device may be completely expelled-during the submergence stroke of the device intc the wash water.

Another object is to provide a washing device of the vacuum type, wherein means is provided for scavaging the air trapped within the device during the submergence of the device within the wash water, and return the air or medium scavaged from the device back into the Wash water for assisting in the agitation of the washing medium.

A further object is to provide a washing device that maybe employed with a power driven washing machine, that will, in connection with the washing medium, subject the fabric being washed to the action of a vacuum of sufficient degree to thoroughly and effectively cause the washing medium to be circulated throughthe mesh of the fabric being washed in such a manner that will reduce the time required for the washing operation, and at the same time handle the fabric being washed in a gentle manner and thereby increase the life of the fabric. 7

A still further object is to provide a washing device of the vacuum type for washing clothing, fabrics and the like, that Will subject such fabrics to a thorough washing operation, which operation will be gentle yet fast and thorough, which will operate to effectively flush air, soap and water back and forth through themesh of the fabric and will be equally adaptable for washingsilks, laces and like, dainty articles, as well as cleansing coarser fabrics, such as overalls, work-shirts and heavier soiled pieces.

A still further object is to provide a washing device of the vacuum type, having the above characteristics, that will be efficient, durable, adapts.- ble for use either manually or with a power driven machine, and which may be manufactured as a relatively inexpensive article. V

The above and other objects will be made apparent throughout the further description of the device, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like 'i'eference characters refer'to like parts. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is a definition of theinvention but is merely em ployed for the purpose of illustrating a practical device containing the characteristics for effectuating the principals of the invention. The scope of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing: t

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a manually op-' erated device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the-line III-JIIof Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a washing machine employing a plurality of washing devices, and novel means for actuating the same.

Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive illustrate one form of the invention, which form is particularly adapted for manual operation. It is to be expressly understood that the device may take various shapes, such as cup or conical shape. The device as il= lustrated in these figures employs a cone 10 having a handle member 11, the latter being connected to the apex of the cone 10 by means of a tubular member 12. The handle 11 may be at tached to the upper end of the tubular member 12 by suitable means, such as a retaining pin 13, the

handle member 11 having a reduced portion 14 extending into the upper end of the tubular member 12 for positively closing the upper end of the tubular member 12. The lower end of the tubular member 12 extends through an opening 15 provided in the apex of the cone 10 and projects downwardly where it is rigidly attached by any suitable means, such as threads 16, to a partition 1'7 provided within the cone and intermediate the axis of the cone. The partition 1'? is provided with a central chamber 18, which chamber is open for communication with the lower end of the tubular member 12, as shown at 19. The chamber 18 is also adapted to communicate with the lower inner portion of the cone 10, which communication is controlled by a one-way valve, represented in its entirety by 20. The valve 20may comprise a plug 21 threaded into an opening 22 provided in the lower portion of the partition 17, which opening 22 communicates with the chamber 18. The plug 21 is provided with an opening 23 disposed vertically and centrically thereof, which opening is adapted to receive a downwardly depending stem 24 of a valve 25. The valve 25 is normally maintained in its lowermost position, which is closed position, by means of gravity. The plug 21 is further provided with a plurality of vertical openings 26, which openings are normally closed attheir upper ends, by the valve 25. The plug 21 may also be provided with a plurality of horizontal openings 27, the latter registering with the openings 26. The openings 27 are preferably positioned adjacent the lower surface of the partition 17 for permitting complete evacuation of air or other medium contained within the lower portion of the cone duringthe downward or submergence stroke of the device into the washing medium, and since the openings 27 are perpendicular to the axis of the apparatus they largely prevent the washing fluid from passing upwardly through openings 26 into the chamber 18 and thereby interfere with the free action of the valve and the exhaust of air. a

It will now be obvious that upon submerging the device into the wash water that any air or medium within the open portion of the cone will be forced upwardly through the openings 26 and 2'7, raising the valve 25 and continuing through the chamber 18 and into the tubular member 17. The tubular member 17 is provided with a plurality of openings 28 through which the air may be expelled from the tubular member 17. The tubular member 17 is further provided with deflectors 29 positioned to cooperate with the openings28 for deflecting the air or other fluid passing through the openings28 downwardly, as indicated by the arrows 30, and back into the wash water. The openings 28 andtheir ultimate outlets at 30 are spaced a substantial distance from the normal water line depth to which the cup is normally immersed so that upon immersion of the cup the outlets 30 will not be immersed in the fluid nor be affected by the splash of the water agitation which would cause back pressure and prevent ready and easy flow of the exhausted air from the cup and tube.

It is also here pointed out that the valve 25 may be positioned in the opening 15 provided in the apex of the cone 10, or in any other desirable position where the air may be expelled from the cone or cup during t e suhmergence stroke of the device. It is also pointed out that while one form of; a valve has been illustrated and described in the preferred form as a puppet valve, it is here contemplated that any valve suitable for effectuating the purpose above described is included in this disclosure.

Fig. 5 illustrates a power driven washing machine. The machine may comprise a washing receptacle 30 mounted on suitable supports 31 and having a plurality of washing devices, represented in their entirety by 32, carried by a vertical shaft 33 disposed coaxially within the receptacle 30 and supported for reciprocal movement through the bottom of the receptacle 30, as shown at 34. The devices 32 may be connected by a resilient cross member 35, the latter hav-- ing suitable means 36 disposed intermediate its length for selectively engaging spaced openings 37 for regulating the height or position of the devices within the receptacle 30 in accordance with the amount of wash water employed. The shaft 33 may be vertically reciprocated by any suitable means, such as a power driven crank 38 connected to the lower end of the shaft 33 by a suitable connecting rod 39, theorank 38 being driven by any suitable source of power, such as a motor 40, drivably connected to the crank 38 by means of gears and shafts, as shown. Means is also provided for rotating the shaft 33 at predetermined intervals, which means may comprise a gear 42 rigidly connected adjacent the lower end of the shaft 33 and adapted to operably engage a segmental gear 43, thegear 43 being drivably connected to a shaft 44, the-latter being included in the gear and shaft mechanism for drivably connecting the motor 40 with the crank 38.

It will now be understood that the devices 32 will be moved upwardly and downwardly during the vertical reciprocation of the shaft 33, and also by means of the gear 42 and segmental gear 43 the devices 32 will be intermittently revolved through any predetermined angle about the axis of the shaft 33. This causes the devices 32 to come into intimate contact with the entire contents of the wash water and fabric being treated.

The operation of the device is simply the sub mergence and withdrawal of the devices 32 into and out of the wash water, the wash water operating during the submergence stroke to force the air from the interior of the devices 32 by way of the valve 25 and openings 28, thereby leaving the interior of the devices 32 freefrom air so that asthe devices are withdrawn from the wash water, a vacuum will be formed within the devices of a degree suiiicient to positively draw the wash water and soap through the mesh of the fabric being treated. The vacuum effect created by the present device is gentle yet positive in effecting intimate contact between the wash water and the mesh of the fabric.

While I have illustrated and described but certain forms of the present device, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the structure illustrated and described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A washing device comprising a cup member having an open end for immersion in washing fluid and having a closable conduit at its other end, a one-way valve disposed in said closable conduit, a tubular member extending from said cup in direction opposite to the immersible end and adapted for communication with the interior of the cup through said closable conduit, said closable conduit having an opening into the interior of the cup substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cup, and said tubular member having an opening therein, the outlet of which is spaced a substantial distance from the cup portion which is normally immersed during the operation of the apparatus.

2. A washing device comprising a cup having an open end for immersion in washing fluid and being tapered from said end toward an apex, 'a tubular member having conduit communication with the interior of said cup at said apex, a oneway valve disposed in said conduit for permitting the passage of air therethrough from the interior of said cup into said tubular member in response to compression within said cup, a portion of said conduit within the cup being arranged angularly to the end-to-end axis of the cup, and said tubular member having an outlet spaced a substantial distance from the portion of the cup which is immersed during normal operation of the apparatus.

3. A washing device including a hollow body having an open end portion for immersion in washing fluid and tapered radially inwardly from said open end portion toward its other end portion, a tubular member having communication conduit with the interior of the hollow body at said inwardly tapered end portion, said tubular member having an opening therein spaced a substantial distance from the immersion end portion of the hollow body, and a valve structure mounted in association with the communication conduit from the tubular member to the interior of the hollow body, said valve structure including a valve chamber and a one-way valve mounted therein, and said tubular member extending a substantial distance from said valve chamber in an opposite direction from the immersion portion of the hollow body, and said outlet opening of the tubular member being spaced a substantial distance from the valve chamber, and said communication conduit having a portion which is angularly disposed to the end-to-end axis of the hollow body.

HARRISON LEE WILLIAMS. 

